Another's Musings: "A Gentle Heart"

Today I read a post at ThreeBadFingers where Jeffrey posted "A Gentle Heart", with his inspiration coming from Paul's epistle to the Galatians (Galatians 6:1-5, 7-10). It is a good read and I felt especially touched since the Spirit had already been telling me that I needed to work and pray a little more on this subject in my own life (see a previous post of mine “By their fruits…”).

While the words are true, and I know they are, I pray that I can better implement them in my life and put off my shortcomings. My prayer also extends to all of us, that the world will be infused with a little more of Heaven as the Lord pours His Spirit upon us and are hearts become more gentle.

Arise and Sit Down...

I was reading where Christ was quoting Isaiah and I got started chasing some scriptures. Nothing I read was new but the imagery and the force of the words really struck me. First consider these words from Isaiah discussing the redemption of Zion. (I am sure that someone has written an entire book on these passages and that is ok, I will apply my own effort in them and be better edified than by reading someone else. I can always read their work another day.)

Isaiah 52

1 AWAKE, awake; put on thy strength , O Zion ; put on thy beautiful garments , O Jerusalem , the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
2 Shakethyself from the dust; arise ,and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
3 For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money .

What a wonderful description of the redemption of His people. The Lord says to awake from sin and despair, get out of the gutter, clean up, stand up, then sit down. In other words, clean up, get out from the world, and sit (I imagine this like sitting at a table, the banquet of the Lord, and I must be presentable before doing this.) How is this done? Well, verse 3 reminds us that my sins are my own (I sell myself for things of no real worth), but through the Savior I can be redeemed without money (through faith).

Isaiah was a master at images and this is one of the best. There is one more image Isaiah give in this chapter that is very intriguing. Note verse 15.

Isa 52

15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

The image to Christ as the atoning sacrifice (shall he sprinkle many nations). See my posting on Christ as the final and eternal sacrifice in the Mosaic Law.

An aside: That was my focus from the verse but I find the rest of the verse quite interesting. I imagine that at His coming to the world (for the second time), those people of power who have not had an opportunity to really hear, because no one ever tells people of great riches or power the truth (they don't want to offend), the powerful will not know what to say and they will consider things that they never heard. Anyone with additional thoughts on this is very welcome to comment, or leave a link. The imagery is intriguing.

A battle over the values encouraged by faith

While reading other things on the internet, I came accross this which puts into light the battle over some of the values which I hold dear. I am not Catholic, but I do have confidence that the Lord can lead people that have good intentions. I hope that the Cardinal electors approach this upcoming conclave without internal politics but with feeling hearts and efforts to work towards what would be best in terms of the current world situation and how the scriptures can help.

I hope they choose a good Pope, a good Pope that will help and not hinder good people.

I hope they choose a Pope that will continue to (or at least appear to) stand for life, stand for family, stand for decency, and defend the freedom of religion rather than the oppression of religion (a growing trend among the secular left).

I not only hope for these things but I pray for them.

By their fruits...

This morning I read about the Savior saying, “Ye shall know them by their fruits” (referenced below). This corresponded perfectly with what I have been musing on of late with my own thoughts of those who I may not like or those who I am wary of, as well as those who seem to not like me. Who don't I like? Well, really no one in particular but there are those that drive me crazy or I am wary of (see my 'praying for enemies' post). Likewise, I have seen the 'secular left' attack those of us who are religious as nothing but wakkos who believe in that we are no different than the Greeks believing in Zues or other mythology. I have also seen those who have different religious beliefs attack my faith and specifically my church. So, what is to be done? How do I overcome my own prejudices and how do others overcome their prejudices of me? Well, the answer is in the scriptures and the moral should even be accepted by the 'secular left'. It is found in several places: (Matt. 7, Luke 6, 3 Ne. 14).

For example: MATT 7

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit ; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

So, how do I look for the ‘fruits’? It can be hard in the world where we live; where appearance and public relations seem to rule. Nevertheless, I need to be more careful to look at the results of people’s actions, not just their words (not that words are not extremely important). Likewise, I hope that others look beyond the rumor mill of ideas about my beliefs and see the results in my life and those who try to live the beliefs. If our fruits are found as less than desirable, then maybe there is something to talk about.

Though I have not been specific about it, I believe this principle can be directly related to public and political life. If a program sounds good theoretically but does not produce good results, it may mean that the good theory was only a good intension but the theory itself is poor. For example, I still read/hear people say that the Soviet Union failed because of the poor implementation of socialism rather than socialism itself. Not that good principles can’t be poorly implemented, but the point is the same. The real problems of the old Soviet Empire was not the tyrannical reign that was taking place (tyrants will die or tyrannical dynasties will fail) but of the results now of a people trying to learn how to have personal responsibility when none was ever afforded to them- a direct result of the theory of socialism. A people cannot be made to be good or to work for the good of society—that must come from within. My beliefs teach me that I can learn to be good and to work for the good of others and I have hope in the fruits that those beliefs will bring to others in creating a better world. What are the fruits of your priorities?

Praying for Enemies?

The other evening before bed, I was reading some words on prayer, specifically on how to have a house of prayer where my children can learn to use prayer. What struck me particularly was a reference to the Savior’s words:

Are you following Christ’s admonition to pray to the Father and teach your children to pray, that godliness, reverence for God and his work, every day may be impressed upon the hearts of your children? That should be in every home. Pray not only for yourselves, but pray even for your enemies.

I was shocked for a minute as I realized I had been ignoring a huge commandment from God, that of praying for my enemies. This especially hit me considering the time in which we now live (war, terrorism, deceit, and those who call good evil and evil good). I guess I had been trying to justify myself. Not praying for Bin Ladin is one thing (I thought) but I should be praying for the ‘leftist’ in my own country, or even the French (I had to throw that in-- I was smiling as I wrote it). So, who are my enemies? I classified them into three types.

1. Satan, the enemy of all righteousness [Acts 13:10, Matt 13:25-39].
2. Those who would hurt or kill (Bin Ladin and other terrorists, murderers, rapists, etc.)
3. Those who are fighting against the values I hold dear (‘secular left’).

There isn’t much I can do about the first enemy other than pray, try to live close to the Lord, and be an example of hope that others may also try and do the same.

There also isn’t much I can do personally about the second. I have heard people say that Christians cannot defend themselves since they are supposed to turn the other cheek and love their enemies. This has some truth on an individual level, but the reason that the Lord help institute governments is to protect our ability to do protect us and this our commission to love. If we were always getting killed, how could we love? So the governments protects our ability to love and forgive, and it is then our responsibility to support (1 Tim 2:1-2) the government in this protection. In this way, I, we, act out of duty and the love of the protection of others and, I believe, is a very Christian thing to do. However, besides the protection provided by the government, I can pray that those who would hurt may be stopped, or that they will somehow see the error in what they do.

Now for the third. How do I find a way to pray for those who despise my beliefs (here) and work against that which I hold dear (family, children, life, traditional marriage, etc.)? It seems almost harder to pray for these people than those who would kill me since I think they should know better. Many of them claim to be diverse in their thinking and accepting. Never-the-less, my attitute towards them should be better. The scriptures are clear:

Matt. 5

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Rom. 12

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

So, the words of God are clear. I need to love them, pray for them, and count those in the third group as my brothers and sisters. However, I shouldn’t/cant just allow them to walk over my beliefs or not discuss with them. Consider this:

2 Thes. 3

13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

So, what do I do? I need to continue to be as active politically as I have been so that I can support the government in: (1) protecting my rights so that I can be free to love and pray for them that may hate me or my country; and (2) I must not consider those people my ‘enemy’ but a brother to whom I want to help through love, prayer, and, if (need be) admonishment.

Wow, faith and prayer!!!

I was reading my friend's spiritual musings and read his newest post/essay (here). It is a heart tearing family tragedy of a good friend of his in the context of faith and prayer. My friend is one of the most spiritual persons I have met. I recommend his essay.

Anyone reading this, I would ask for your prayers in behalf of the situation.